Freedom of expression is a hallmark of our Constitution and democracy. It not only empowers citizens to hold opinions within the laws, it also helps to highlight certain issues for further robust debate towards building a better society for all.

Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South, Senate Chief Whip) has been under attack by some elements in his political party over his strong criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and apparent inaccessibility. Ndume is a widely outspoken Senator.

His colleague, Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), accused Ndume of making “inflammatory statements” to “run-down” Tinubu’s government. Also, the ruling party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, attacked Ndume, calling him an attention seeker. He said the president is busy with the job for which he was elected.

One of the ways of gauging if a democracy is working is how the citizens are able to criticise their leaders or hold strong opinions about the manner in which their affairs are being run without harassment or intimidation.

In the USA and most Western liberal democracies, citizens openly take their leaders to the cleaners over policy issues or misconducts. It is almost unheard of that they are harassed over such, except where the laws are breached. But in totalitarian countries like Communist and Islamic theocracies, people regularly disappear for daring to criticise or “insult” the leaders.

As a country modelled on the Western style of democracy, the 1999 Constitution empowers the people with freedom of expression within the law. Senator Ndume and any other citizen are within rights to criticise the president. Indeed, coming from one of the most experienced and ranked Senators who was also elected on the platform of the APC, it is a clarion call on the regime about the need to improve the quality of governance and bring relief to the people.

Tinubu was a prominent opposition figure for 16 years before his APC won the presidency and took over the affairs of Nigeria through former President Muhammadu Buhari. While in the opposition, he criticised and participated in protests against the late General Sani Abacha regime. Even as the governor of Lagos State, he fought former President Olusegun Obasanjo to a standstill, especially over Lagos local government funds.

He plotted for the downfall of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and helped bring the party down democratically in 2015. It is hypocritical for anyone to seek immunity from criticism for Tinubu now that he is president, more so, as most Nigerians are finding it difficult to eat. Anyone who feels the heat in the kitchen is too much should leave the kitchen.

However, we must remain cognisant of the limits of freedom of expression, which is also guaranteed by the same Constitution. A citizen’s rights end where another’s begins.

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